There is one on Edhelper that I've used. When I got it from there, you didn't have to be a paying member to use that particular item. I don't know if that's still true.

I modified it a bit though...The kids would fill in their name, the date assigned, the date due and the subject and description of assignment (page #, etc.), then (and most importantly) their excuse. I had my signature already copied onto the bottom and then I'd make two photocopies of each completed slip. The original went home with the kid the same day or the next day, one went in their "Thursday folder" and one went in my file.

This worked great for me. I never had any problem with parents claiming the kid did something when they didn't.... I had proof in the kids' own handwriting that they didn't do the assignment.

I made the slips on brightly colored paper and made the photocopies on plain paper. Each original slip was 1/2 of a normal sheet of paper in size.

This is what I came up with so far. Thanks for all of your great suggestions!

Yours is really cute! Mine is simple and to the point. I guess I should have been more creative and added a graphic or two! I guess I'll go do that, too! Thanks for the inspiration!

I used the one on Teacher Tools and adapted it for my specific needs. I fit four to a page. My students are starting to use it and I've realized that several of them have told me "I did it, but I left it at home," so that's a change I will be making on the forms.

It's posted here on ProTeacher. The good thing about these MS Word downloads is that we can change them to suit our particular needs. If someone finds that it's something you can use, you can make it fit your own homework requirements.